Each year at Christmastime, Troy Health and Rehabilitation Center offers the community a unique opportunity for Christmas giving with the center’s Adopt-a-Resident program.

Jeanette Dawkins, TH&R Center’s activities director, said it’s again the time of year when people want to help others who are less fortunate have a brighter and more meaningful Christmas.

“There are some residents at Troy Health and Rehab that don’t have families in the local area or maybe no family member at all,” Dawkins said. “For them, Christmas would be a sad time if it were not for the caring and generosity of the people in Troy and Pike County that adopt a resident at Christmas.

“Those who adopt a resident are given a room number and their resident’s wish list and may select any of the items on their wish lists or all of them.”

Most of the lists include items such s bath sets with body lotion, body wash and other toiletry items, socks, lap blankets and pajamas. However, Dawkins said last year, boom boxes or CD players were extremely popular among the residents.

“Most all of the residents enjoy music and they really were excited to get a boom box and CDs,” she said. “Those were gifts that they enjoyed during Christmas and still enjoy.”

Dawkins said boom boxes would be great gifts for those who don’t have them and CDs would be greatly appreciated by those who have the CD players.

“It would be very meaningful if area churches would make CDs of some of their sermons and/or their music or musical performances,” she said. “Music means a lot to our residents. It’s wonderful to hear them singing along or just tapping time with the music. Music brings them a lot of joy.”

Dawkins said there are more women residents than men and gift baskets are always appreciated.

Those who would like to participate in the Adopt-a-Resident program may do so by calling 334-566-0880. Gifts will need to be delivered to TH&R by December 11.